(Photo by Win McNamee)
Seizing bipartisan opportunities to advance health policy will be in the interest of both parties and more importantly all Americans.
President Biden touched on the theme of bipartisanship several times in his State of the Union address last night, specifically touting the 300 pieces of bipartisan legislation he has signed into law over the last two years. Of the bills focused on health, a few, such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, received support from both sides of the aisle, while others, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, did not. While the speech encouraged bipartisanship, the prospects for it in health policy during the new 118th Congress remain uncertain.
The president’s address included a focus on his four-part unity agenda, which centers on health. He called for a substantial effort to reduce cancer deaths in this country by accelerating cutting-edge research. He urged Congress to support efforts at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense on veterans’ mental health and housing to help reduce veteran suicides. More broadly on mental health, he called on Congress to take on “Big Tech” to address aggressive social media marketing to kids. And on reducing overdose deaths, he asked Congress to help procure new detection technology at the border to reduce fentanyl trafficking. Several of these ideas received applause from both sides of the aisle.
Issues not receiving a bipartisan embrace included capping insulin prices for Americans with private insurance, future pandemic preparedness funding, expanding gun violence prevention programs, protecting reproductive health rights, and filling the Medicaid coverage gap. There’s no doubt these issues will continue to be points of contention in the near-term. In addition, while the president insisted entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security were off-limits amid the politicization from both sides, sustainability of the programs will need to be dealt with in a serious, bipartisan manner.
There were, however, missed opportunities to signal a larger bipartisan health agenda for the 118th Congress. First, given that poor nutrition is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S., President Biden could have urged for bipartisan reauthorization of the farm bill and its largest program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could play an even more prominent role in enhancing nutrition security.
Second, the need for reauthorization of mandatory funding for our nation’s community health centers was not mentioned; this funding expires on September 30. These centers provide vital comprehensive primary care to over 30 million underserved Americans in urban and rural areas.
Third, while discussing the importance of reducing overdose deaths, the president did not address the need to reauthorize parts of the SUPPORT Act which expand treatment options for Americans with opioid use disorder.
Fourth, he could have reframed the ongoing COVID-19 political debate to one in which policymakers identify lessons learned for federal agencies and codify them in the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act.
And, finally, though the president noted the extraordinary success of the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), he could have more directly called for its reauthorization to further save lives and support global health security and U.S. standing in the world.
All five of these opportunities will require bipartisan support in the 118th Congress if they are to advance.
Attention now turns to the unveiling of the administration’s fiscal year 2023 budget as well as the GOP House’s budget plans. Several markers for bipartisanship to advance health policy were laid down yesterday. Seizing these opportunities, in addition to those that were missed, will be in the interest of both parties and more importantly all Americans.
